A small Hebridean island will more than triple its population this weekend as The Levellers headline an award-winning festival.
Tiree Music Festival, taking place today, Saturday and Sunday, is another sell out this year with 2,000 attendees.
And organisers have been quick to capitalize on rumours that Americna superstars Beyonce and Jay-Z are currently cruising the Argyll coast by offering them free tickets – in exchange for a Gaelic tune.
Daniel Gillespie, Festival Director of Tiree Music Festival, said: “This is our seventh TMF and with each year that goes by we are astounded by the support we receive, not only from all our sponsors – including Cairn Capital, CalMac and FlyBe – but from festival go-ers and artists alike who get involved and make our award-winning festival such a success.
“2016 is another sell out year with 2,000 attendees – over treble the population of the island – in for a real treat with international acts including Levellers, Flook and Sharon Shannon taking to the stage over the weekend alongside the very best Scottish artists from Breabach, Blazin Fiddles to Fergie MacDonald.”
Rumours have been rife this week that Beyonce, who is in Britain as part of her world tour, was aboard the super yacht Jamaica Bay, which was spotted in Oban.
Mr Gillespie said: “Despite being sold out, we wouldn’t like to leave the superstar a ‘Broken Hearted Girl’ so we’re extending an invite to her, Jay-Z and Blue Ivy to attend our family-friendly music festival, accepting a tune in Gaelic as payment.
“We’re sure the power couple will fall ‘Crazy in Love’ with the island affectionately known as the ‘Hawaii of the North’ and our festival’s cracking line-up. Go on Beyoncé, give your Captain the ‘Green Light’ to sail to Tiree.”
Famed for its laid back atmosphere, TMF attracts a diverse audience and is well-known as being one of the most family-friendly in the UK.
This year’s festival will feature three stages including the Calmac Live Lounge, set in the heart of the TMF Community Village – a purpose built arena packed with a host of creative activities and the best of west coast produce from Argyll Foods. As well as the music, there will be special sea-life trips with Basking Shark Scotland and also the first ever TMF ‘flash-mob’ co-ordinated by Eden Court Creative.
